Coriander has been used throughout Asia, North Africa and Europe since more than 2000 BC and in the civilizations of the Levant. Archaeologists in Egypt found two baskets of coriander fruits in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Coriander was also offered as gifts in ancient Egyptian tombs. Pliny mentioned that the best types of coriander that came to Italy were from Egypt. Coriander was mentioned in the Ebers papyrus 17 times and in the Berlin papyrus three times. It also came in the Hearst papyrus, and was mentioned in the Exodus of the Torah.
Medicinal benefits of coriander:
- Coriander extracts are used as a nerve and muscle relaxant, and to reduce pain.
- Coriander contains many antioxidants and thus helps fight infections, boost immunity, and fight cancer. These antioxidant properties may also benefit in reducing brain inflammation, improving memory, and reducing symptoms of stress, but more research is needed to confirm these benefits.
- Coriander may protect the skin from aging and sun damage thanks to its antioxidant effect, and may contribute to the treatment of mild rashes and eczema. Coriander may also have benefits for hair health.
- Coriander may protect the heart by lowering high blood pressure, lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) and raising good cholesterol (HDL) and is not recommended for use by patients with hypotension.
How to store coriander ?
- Partially boiling cilantro helps preserve its color and freshness when kept in the freezer. This can be done by following these steps:
- Preserving coriander Partially parboiling cilantro helps preserve its color and freshness when stored in the freezer. This can be done by following the following steps; Put a large pot of water on the fire, and leave it to boil.
- Set aside a large pot of ice water.
- Put a group of coriander leaves in the water when it boils, and wait until it wilts, and this may last for a few seconds only, as cooking it for a long time may lead to the removal of the flavor from it.
- Transfer them to ice water as soon as they wilt. This will help remove the residual heat in the cilantro, so that it does not continue to simmer.
- Pat the cilantro until dry.
- Remove the leaves from the stems. Transfer them to freezer bags, put them in the freezer, and it is recommended to distribute the leaves thinly in the bags, and store them flat, so that a person can break only what he needs from use.
Coriander side effects :
- Coriander is considered a relatively safe food, whether it is consumed in its nutritional form (green or dried) or in the form of grains. However, coriander may cause some side effects, such as an allergic reaction and increased sensitivity to the sun, which exposes the skin to an increased risk of burns.
- Coriander may also cause inflammation and irritation of the skin on contact with the skin.
There is no evidence of harm to the kidneys or liver of coriander.
How is coriander used ?
-You can eat coriander and get its benefits through:
-Add it to grilled vegetables or salads.
-Use as a seasoning while cooking meat.
-Add them to different types of soup.
-It is usually recommended to store coriander seeds in an airtight container and can be stored for one to two years, and in contrast, coriander powder can be stored in an airtight container for 6 months.
